FaceTime in Saudi Arabia

Now you may install FaceTime on devices sold in Saudi Arabia, your device should be updated to iOS 11.3 or later, after that you will find FaceTime in your iPhone

I bought my iPhone 7 Plus last March 2017 while I was still working in Saudi Arabia (without FaceTime activated), and I am already back home here in the Philippines. I was not bother anymore having no FaceTime feature in my iPhone, but after knowing that Saudi Arabia had already lifted the ban on FaceTime, I decided to chat with Apple Support just 2 days ago. I was entertained by several Apple Support Advisors trying to resolve my problem with FaceTime. Several attempts but they were not able to resolve the problem, but one Apple Phone Support Advisor send me the below link:

Get help with FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in Saudi Arabia - Apple Support

Now, the good thing is that, I still have my old Mobily SIM Card with me here in the Philippines though the SIM no longer has network coverage. But i tried to put the old Mobily SIM Card into my iPhone 7 Plus, restarted the phone, and to my surprise, i found FaceTime in my phone settings, though at first, i did not see FaceTime app in my home screen. I tested FaceTime calling from my MacBook to my iPhone, then from my iPhone to my MacBook, and it is working. I then searched for the FaceTime app in the App Store and re-downloaded it because I deleted the app before and it is now in my home screen. I tested it again and it is working. Then I removed the old Mobily SIM Card and inserted my local SIM Card, and to my surprise, FaceTime is still there. Again, I tested FaceTime calling again using my local SIM and it is still working. Now, I cannot be sure if FaceTime will permanently stay in my iPhone, or it might be gone suddenly later on. But as of this writing, I still have FaceTime in my iPhone 7 Plus (bought from Saudi Arabia).

I suggest you may want to try it guys and see if it works for you.

I bought my iPhone 7 Plus last March 2017 while I was still working in Saudi Arabia (without FaceTime activated), and I am already back home here in the Philippines. I was not bother anymore having no FaceTime feature in my iPhone, but after knowing that Saudi Arabia had already lifted the ban on FaceTime, I decided to chat with Apple Support just 2 days ago. I was entertained by several Apple Support Advisors trying to resolve my problem with FaceTime. Several attempts but they were not able to resolve the problem, but one Apple Phone Support Advisor send me the below link:

Get help with FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in Saudi Arabia - Apple Support

Now, the good thing is that, I still have my old Mobily SIM Card with me here in the Philippines though the SIM no longer has network coverage. But i tried to put the old Mobily SIM Card into my iPhone 7 Plus, restarted the phone, and to my surprise, i found FaceTime in my phone settings, though at first, i did not see FaceTime app in my home screen. I tested FaceTime calling from my MacBook to my iPhone, then from my iPhone to my MacBook, and it is working. I then searched for the FaceTime app in the App Store and re-downloaded it because I deleted the app before and it is now in my home screen. I tested it again and it is working. Then I removed the old Mobily SIM Card and inserted my local SIM Card, and to my surprise, FaceTime is still there. Again, I tested FaceTime calling again using my local SIM and it is still working. Now, I cannot be sure if FaceTime will permanently stay in my iPhone, or it might be gone suddenly later on. But as of this writing, I still have FaceTime in my iPhone 7 Plus (bought from Saudi Arabia).

I suggest you may want to try it out and see if it works for you.

Dear hanif,

Any apple phone or tablet have facetime in saudia arabia ( even without face time phone have face time also)

know there is few basic step which you need to follow . after that your face time will be active. remember to active facetime you need an Active sim .if you are in saudia arabia ( zain ,stc, mobily) .you need to put that sim in your mobile, if your mobile is active you need to put a sim in your mobile and go to setting and format your mobile ( reset).remember never take out your sim if you want to active the face time,once you format or update your phone try to finished the process once you active your phone the Facetime apps will come but kindly switched on your WiFi and wait for few min until a message will come from carrier ,when it came select okay and then click on the facetime app and wait for active.

remember once you follow this process it can be apply by those device which come as a without facetime .Thank you and i hope it solve your issue .

Im assuming you have purchased a Middle East/KSA model in this case carrier update will be only available on Saudi SIM.

Yes i did it but i have to put an Egyptian simcard

To get the activation message i think you have to put another SIM card not the Saudi sim

Yes got it, now face-time is available on my iPhone x in saudi arabia after update ios 11.3

So it was apple to update than we recieve carrier update.

Please update your device to iOS 11.3. Once the update is complete you will get a notification called “Carrier Update”, update it and FaceTime will be automatically installed on your device.

It is working with only stc SIM card not with other local sims in Saudi ar

I chatted with Apple few days ago and they suggested to connect iPhone with Mac and signing with Apple ID, and they will send reset for the FaceTime app , but I didn’t have time for that since Iim flying most of the time. Try it , they might fix it for you.

You won’t be able to do this yourself. It’d need to come through your wireless carrier, or if the ban is lifted in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan as well, in an iOS update.

(153871)

Works with all iPhones with or without Face

By clicking about in setting you will recieve pop up message "carrier update" just click it

local sim card

Am from Mauritius

Get help with FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in Saudi Arabia - Apple Support